The "Welfare State" is rarely about improving the welfare of the poor, and is often about making people dependant on the state in order to control them; and the more power the state has the more that achievement in the economy becomes related to political connections than anything else.
Now you may agree with the agenda that the government is trying to push by getting you to drive more fuel efficient cars, get people to cut back on smoking, stop drinking or eating junk food (and you may even support the agenda of the people who had political connections or supported the "Right" causes that the stimulus bill) but eventually the government will use its power against you.
Consider videogames for a moment ... The combination of a media who have heavily misrepresented the content in "Mature" videogames (as they misrepresent all issues) and the widespread misconception that videogames are primarily for school aged children set them up to be used by politicians who need to "Champion a Cause" to introduce taxes or regulations which impact you in a negative way.
